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Seiko Prospex SPB117J1 Alpinist Automatic Bracelet Watch - W25416
Ref. SPB117J1
Sits in Seiko’s upper tier here — more premium than three quarters of the Seiko watches we list, which start at £110.
Price range £110 to £3,550 across 107 Seiko watches in stock.The Alpinist line began in 1959 as a watch built specifically for Japanese mountain climbers — people who needed a reliable instrument in conditions where most watches would fail. That original brief still shapes this version: the rotating inner compass ring, operated by a second crown at four o'clock, is a functional carry-over from those early models, not a design gesture. The shark-tooth hour markers — triangular indices that read immediately in a glance — give the black dial its character and its nickname. At 39.5mm with a 46.4mm lug-to-lug, it sits proportionately well on a range of wrists without pushing into sports-watch territory on the cuff. The 6R35 movement runs to approximately 70 hours on a full wind, which means a watch left on the nightstand Friday evening will still be running Monday morning. The screw-down crown and transparent caseback together reward the owner who likes to see what is inside — the movement is worth looking at.
- Reference
- SPB117J1
- Brand
- Seiko
- Case size
- 39.5mm
- Case thickness
- 13.2mm
- Lug width
- 20mm
- Case material
- Stainless steel
- Dial
- Black
- Crystal
- Sapphire
- Movement
- Automatic
- Calibre
- 6R35
- Functions
- Date
- Water resistance
- 200m
- Bracelet / strap
- Stainless steel bracelet
- Strap colour
- Silver
- Clasp
- Three-fold clasp
- Lume
- LumiBrite
- Retailer
- F.Hinds Jewellers
Additional specifications
- Lug-to-lug
- 46.4mm
- Power reserve
- 70 hours
Your new watch
Frequently asked questions, and things you should know about this watch
Can I swim with it?
Yes. At 200m it is rated for swimming, snorkelling and recreational diving.
Will the glass scratch?
Unlikely. Sapphire is second only to diamond in hardness and shrugs off everyday marking.
Does it need a battery?
No. It is automatic — the motion of your wrist winds it, and there is no cell to replace.
How long does it run for when it's not worn?
About 70 hours fully wound — enough to sit off the wrist over a weekend and still be running.
What size strap does it take?
20mm. Any strap of that width will fit, and on most modern watches quick-release bars make the swap a two-minute job with no tools.
Will it fit my wrist?
Lug-to-lug is 46.4mm, which suits wrists from roughly 16cm (6¼ inches) upward.
Lug-to-lug decides fit more than case diameter does.
Is it a men's or women's watch?
Listed as men's, though at 39.5mm it sits in the range that suits anyone.
Cheapest place to buy
F.Hinds Jewellers is the only UK retailer we track stocking this reference, so there is nothing to compare it against today.
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